Satellite-direct-to-standard-phone service (sat2phone) provider Lynk Global, Inc. signed a contract with the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) to provide commercial sat2phone services to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and other U.S. government agencies.
This contract enables DoD, DHS and other U.S. government agencies to commercially purchase sat2phone services for the next five years, and includes an option to extend the contract an additional five years. Services available under the contract include SMS text messaging, emergency cell alerts, and LynkCast weather and information services.
Lynk co-founder and CEO Charles Miller said, “The U.S. Department of Defense has been field testing Lynk’s technology for several years. We are deeply grateful for the trust that the DoD has given to Lynk with their decision to give us the first-ever sat2phone contract.” Miller continued, “This contract will enable the nearly three million men and women in the DoD to use the existing phone in their pockets to stay connected everywhere. No matter what happens.”
Lynk allows commercial subscribers to send and receive text messages to and from space via standard unmodified, mobile devices. Lynk is currently providing cell emergency alerts, and two-way SMS messaging, and intends to launch voice and mobile broadband services in the future.
Lynk Co-founder and COO Margo Deckard said, “Lynk will enable U.S. government agencies to access life-saving emergency communications to help the American people when terrestrial mobile networks are non-existent or have failed. DISA and the U.S. Space Force will save lives through the Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (PLEO) contract vehicle.”
The U.S. government is the world’s largest customer of commercial satellite communications, according to Lynk. The federal government buys those services through DISA. In 2022, DISA released a PLEO satellite services solicitation for the first time. Of the 20 companies that received DISA PLEO awards, Lynk says it’s the only firm that received a contract for sat2phone connectivity.
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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